A train journey in India, done consciously, can be a wholesome travel experience in itself. It’s a potpourri of cultures moving on a railway track, often traversing through scenic landscapes. However, it can also be tedious job, and a bad experience, if not planned well. From booking train tickets to tracking the train, and getting food onboard, and keeping personal hygiene, one has to be mindful of quite a few things. Over the years, trains have evolved leaps and bounds in India. So, if one plans well, all the troubles can be minimized. Culling out from my experiences, here are some tips for a hassle free train journey experience in India.
A few decades ago, when I started travelling, flights were too costly and were also not available for most destinations. So, a train journey was a natural choice. Hence I used to travel across India by trains, both short distances and long distances. Though booking a ticket or knowing train running status was not easy, there wasn’t much of an alternative! Nonetheless, the train journey itself used to be largely a good experience.
Even without realizing how these train journeys were enriching my travel experience, I always loved it. In course of time, I started travelling more by flights mainly due to lack of time, but whenever I have the time, I look forward to a train journey. So, for me, train journeys are not about budget travel only; they add immense value to my personal development.
